Serving cart

ABSTRACT

An improved serving cart having a braking means which is biased to be in a braking position. The brake shoe is maintained in pressure contact with an adjacent wheel via a spring means. It is deactivated when the operator pushes or pulls the cart with one of the two handles provided on an upper portion of the cart. In an alternative arrangement, pedals are provided on a lower portion of the cart which provide a means by which the braking means is activated or deactivated.

United States Patent Auriemma 51 Mar-.28, 1972 SERVING CART NicholasAlfred Auriemma, Miami, Fla.

Universal Oil Products Company, Des Plaines, 111.

June 4, 1970 Inventor:

Assignee:

Filed:

Appl. No.:

US. Cl. ..188/l9, 188/169, 280/3399 C, 280/4734 Int. Cl ..B62b 5/04Field of Search ..280/47, 33.99 C, 47.34; 188/21, 19, 20, 29,18 A, 71.1,72.9, 722,169

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1923 Radka ..l88/21 1,785,43212/1930 Beatty ..188/21 2,389,320 11/1945 Nance ..188/2l 2,253,8248/1941 Townsend et a1 1 88/21 2,249,860 7/1941 Sheldrick ..l88/20Primary Examiner-Benjamin Hersh Assistant Examiner-Robert R. SongAttorney-James R. Hoatson, Jr. and Ronald H. Hausch [57] ABSTRACT 4Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATEHTEBMARZBIBTZ 3,651,894

sum 1 UF 3 IN VEN TOR: Nicholas A. Aur/emma ,4 TTOR/VEYSPATENTEDMAR28|912 3,651,894

SHEET 2 OF 3 INVENTOR:

IV/cha/as A. Aur/amma SERVING CART The invention relates to an improvedform of a serving cart for use in handling foods, beverages, magazines,and the like, and especially to handling such articles in a movingvehicle such as an aircraft, bus, or train. More particularly, theinvention is directed to a serving cart that has a braking system whichmay be utilized in a manner so that when the operator leaves the cart,the cart remains in a braked position.

Of course, serving carts have been in use for many years for aids inserving articles to passengers of vehicles, and it is also known thatbrakes have been provided on such carts to prevent them from rollingthrough the vehicle. It is believed that the present invention providesfor a novel braking system for a serving cart that is simple to operateand requires little conscious effort on the part of the operator toactivate or deactivate.

Thus, it may be considered a principal object of the present inventionto provide for an improved serving cart having one or more servingplatforms and having a braking system that requires very littleconscious effort on the part of the operator to deactivate or activate.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedserving cart having one or more serving platforms that has a brakingsystem that will operate when the operator removes his hands from thecart.

Another object of this invention is to provide for an improved servingcart having one or more serving platforms that has a braking system thatwill operate by merely activating a pedal or lever with little physicaleffort.

In one of its broadest aspects, the present invention provides for animproved braking system for a serving cart having one or more servingplatforms mounted on framing, and having at least three rotatable wheelsmounted on said framing for the support of the cart. The braking systemcomprises a movable arm connected to a portion of said cart, brakingmeans movably disposed on said framing adjacent at least one of saidwheels for pressurized contacting of a portion of that wheel tointermittently prevent the rotation thereof, motion transferring meansconnected between said arm and said braking means for transferringmotion of said arm to said braking means, and spring means connected tosaid braking system for maintaining said braking means in a position ofpressurized contact with the adjacent wheel, whereas the movement ofsaid arm via said motion transferring means will release said brakingmeans from pressurized contact with said wheel.

Preferably, the movable arm is rotatably connected to the cart. In oneembodiment, the arm is located on an upper portion of the cart and ahandle is connected to the arm. In that embodiment, any movement of thearm will release the braking means from the'adjacent wheel to permitmovement of the cart. Thus, in a sense it is a dead man braking system.That is, if the operator releases the handle, the braking meansautomatically is placed in a position of pressurized contact with theadjacent wheel. When the operator desires to move the cart, he moves thearm and the braking means is automatically released. In a modifiedembodiment, the arm is provided on a lower part of the cart and is inthe form of a brake pedal. Normally, since the brake is biased to be inpressurized contact with the adjacent wheel, the cart is in a brakedposition. To release the braking means, the operator merely depressesthe pedal which requires little physical effort, and consequently thebraking means is removed from contact with the adjacent wheel.

In one embodiment, the braking means comprises a braking shoe slidablymounted above at least one of the wheels. In that embodiment, the motiontransferring means includes a cam means rotatably connected to theframing, a first follower having a first end and a second end, thesecond end having a cam surface thereon. The first follower contacts thecam means adjacent the first end. Any rotation of the cam means willcause the first follower to move laterally. A second follower contactsthe cam surface of the first follower and is connected to the brakeshoe. The lateral motion of the first follower will transfer motion tothe second follower and to the braking shoe via the cam surface. Thespring means in this embodiment comprises a tension spring connected tothe first follower and a compression spring disposed between the brakingshoe and a portion of the framing above the wheel such as the wheelfork. The tension spring is biased to maintain the first follower in aposition permitting the braking shoe to be in pressurized contact withthe adjacent wheel. The compression spring is biased to maintain thebraking shoe in pressurized contact with the adjacent wheel. Thus, thebraking shoe is normally in pressurized contact with the adjacent wheel.When the cam means is caused to rotate, it moves the first followerwhich moves the second follower which in turn lifts the brake shoe fromthe wheel.

In a modified embodiment, the braking means comprises a braking rockerrotatably mounted adjacent at least one of the wheels. In thatembodiment, the motion transferring means includes a cam means rotatablyconnected to the framing of the cart, and a follower having a first andsecond end, said follower contacting said cam means adjacent said firstend. Any rotation of the cam means will cause this follower to movelaterally. The follower is rotatably connected to the braking rockeradjacent the second end. Any lateral motion of the follower willtransfer motion to the braking rocker. In this embodiment, the springmeans comprises a tension spring connected to the follower and beingbiased to maintain the braking rocker in pressurized contact with theadjacent wheel. Thus, normally the braking rocker will be in pressurizedcontact with the adjacent wheel and when the cam means is caused torotate it moves the follower laterally which in turn causes the brakingrocker to be rotated from its position of pressurized contact with thewheel.

The motion transferring means of both of these embodiments may furthercomprise a wire or cable communicating in a taut path between the cammeans and the movable arm. Any movement of the movable arm will thuscause the cam to rotate. On the other hand, the motion transferringmeans may also comprise a connecting rod rotatably connected to the cammeans and to the movable arm whereby the movement of the arm will rotatethe cam section.

Typically, to prevent the cart from rotating about one wheel when it isbeing braked, braking means may be associated with two wheels of a cart.Also to provide for accessibility at two ends of a cart, a movable armprovided in conjunction with motion transferring means may be providedat both ends of the cart.

Reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing and the followingdescription thereof, will serve to point out and more fully illustratethe design and construction of my invention as well as to assist infurther setting forth certain advantageous features in connectiontherewith.

FIG. 1 is an elevational view shown in section of a composite servingcart showning the relative locations of movable arms thereon.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of a brake-pedal type movable armassembly.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the brake-pedal type movable arm assembly ofFIG. 2 as seen from below the cart.

FIG. 4 is the brake-pedal type movable arm of FIG. 3 shown when thepedals are in a brake off" position.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing one embodiment of the braking means ofthis invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 5 astaken through section line 6.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of an alternate embodiment of the braking means ofthe present invention.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 7 as viewed from belowthe cart.

FIG. 9 is an elevational view of a handle type movable arm assembly.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 9 as taken throughsection line 9.

Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawing, there is schematicallyillustrated a composite cart showing the relative locations of twoparticular types of movable arms which may be utilized in conjunctionwith this present invention. Shown is some framing of a typical cartwhich, in this particular cart, comprises a bottom platform 10 and twovertical posts 11 and 12. Actually, the framing as shown here is merelyshown by way of example, and a more complex framing is contemplated inactual applications. Of course, one or more serving platforms would beconnected to posts 1 1 and 12. Since the cart is shown in section, itshould be noted that there would be corresponding posts on the othersides of the cart (not shown). Also shown are three wheels (three morewould be located on the other side of the cart). Wheels 13 are typicalcaster wheels, and their forks would be rotatably connected to'theplatform 10. The fork for the'center wheel 14 would not be connectedtothe frame 10 in the same manner but would be connected in a rigidmanner. The braking means of this present invention is best suited to belocated adjacent to the wheel 14 because of this feature. The brakingmeans has been left off of this particular illustration for it wouldonly confuse the description at this point. Of course, typically therewould be corresponding wheels attached to the platform 10 on the otherside of the cart. FIG. 1 is shown basically to illustrate the relativepositions of two different types of movable arms contemplatedto bewithin the scope of'this invention.

A movable arm 20 is rotatably connected to post 11 via a screw orsuitable connector means 21. Arm 20 is thus free to rotate aboutconnector 21. A handle 23, shown in section, is attached to the movablearm toprovide access by the operator to the movable arm. The movable armhas a gear portion 24 which mates with a gear portion 19 of a secondmovable arm 25 which in turn is connected to a cable or wire 26. Thewire 26 communicates with the remaining portions of the motiontransferring means in a taut path via pulley 27. The details of thisparticular movable arm and the motion transferring means used inconnection therewith will be set forth in detail hereinafter. It iscontemplated that if the movable arm-20 be utilized in conjunction withthis present invention that a similar movable arm be located on post 12to provide accessibility to operate the braking means fromboth ends ofthe cart.

Also shown in FIG. 1 is the brake-pedal type movable arm which islocated on the right side of the cart. Of course, all

details are not shown here, for FIG. 1 is presented to show .cause thebraking means (not shown) to be activated or deactivated, whichever isthe case. A more detailed description of the brake-pedal type movablearm will be set forth hereinafter. v

Reference is now made to FIGS. and 6 of the drawing where one form ofthe braking means and motion transferring means is illustrated. There isshown a portion of the framing to which is connected the wheelforks 50which holdthe wheels 14 in a rotatable manner via connectors 53. In thisparticular embodiment, the braking means comprises a braking shoe 54slidably mounted above each wheel 14'. The motion transferring meansincludes a cam means 55 which is rotatably connected to the'framing 10.The cam means includes a top plate 56, a cam plate 57, a cylindricalshaftSS, and a collar 59. The shaft 58 is sized to fit within an opening60 in platform 10. After its insertion into opening 60, the collar 59 isconnected to the shaft 58 which thus maintains the cam means 55 inplace. Also included in the motion transferring means of this embodimentis a pair of followers 65 positioned on top of platform 10. Eachfollower 65 has a first end 66 which contacts the cam plate 57 at 67.Thus, any rotation of the cam plate 57 will cause the followers 65 tomove outwardly across platform 10. Each follower 65 has a second end 69which has a cam surface 70 thereon. The cam surface 70 is formed by awedge-shaped projection 71 attached to each follower.

sunk. The head of the bolt 73 contacts surface 78.

The spring means of this particular embodiment comprises a pair oftension springs 80 (not shown in FIG. 6) which are connected to thefollowers 65. If only one follower were to be used, the other end ofeach tension spring could be connected to the framing of the cart. Eachtension spring 80 is connected to the opposing followers as illustrated.The tensionsprings 80 are biased to maintain the first followers in aposition which permits the braking shoes 54 to be in pressurized contactwith each adjacent wheel 14'. In other words, they are biased tomaintain the followers 65 in the position as illustrated in F IGS. 5 and6, or in their closest possible spaced apart relationship. The springmeans of this embodiment also includes compression springs 82interdisposed between each braking shoe 54 and each wheel fork 50. Eachcompression spring 82 is biased to maintain the braking shoe 54 inpressurized contact with the wheels 14. Thus, in the position as shown,the compression.springs. 82 will maintain the shoes 54 in pressurizedcontact with wheels 14' to prevent the wheels rotation and to thusprevent the cart from moving about. To release the braking shoes fromthe pressurized contact with the wheels, the cam plate 57 is rotatedcausing the followers 65 to: move outwardly. As the followers moveoutwardly, the cam surfaces cause the second followers to lift thebraking shoes 54 from their position of pressurized contact with the'wheels. The cam plate 57 may be caused to be rotated in variousmanners. For instance, a cable 26 may be attached to the collar 59 andpulled to cause the cam plate 57 to rotate.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8 of the drawing, there is shown analternativeembodiment of the braking means of this present invention. Inthese figures only one side of the cart is shown to simplify thedescription. Shown is a lower platform 10" of a cart to which isattached a wheel fork via connectors 101. A wheel 14" is rotatablyconnected to the fork via connector 103. in this particular embodiment,the braking means 'co'mprisesa brake rocker or oscillator 104 which isrotatably mounted adjacent the wheel 14". The brake rocker includes twoprojecting brake shoes 105 and 106 which are connected to a rockerbracket 107. The rocker bracket 107 has side plates 112 and 113 whichare rotatably connected via connectors and 121 to a pair of brackets 115and 116. Brackets 115 and 116 are in turn connected to the framing viatwo of the connectors 101. In this embodiment, the motion transferringmeans includes a cam means 125 which is rotatably connected to theframing. The cam means includes a plate 126 which is connected to theframing via fasteners 127, a cylindrical shaft 128 which is rotatablyconnected to plate 126, a cam plate 129 which is fixed to cylindricalshaft 128 and guide plates 130 and 131. Also included in the cam meansis a plate which is attached to the cylindrical shaft 128 via nut 137and is used as a driver plate for the cam means. A connector rod 31' isattached to plate 135 via a bracket assembly 151. A similar connectorrod may be attached to the other end of plate 135 through opening 138for connection to the other end of the cart. Of course, in thealternative, a cable may be utilized and connected to plate 135forrotating the cam plate 129.

Also included in the motion transferring means of this embodiment is afollower having a first end contacting the cam plate 129. The followerin this particular embodiment comprises two plates 159 and 161 which areconnected together via connectors to establish a means for adjustment ofthe braking force exerted on wheel 14'. The second end of the followeris rotatably connected to braking rocker 104 via connectors and 171.Thus, rotation of the cam plate 129 will cause the follower 155 to movelaterally which will cause braking rocker 104 to rotate.

The spring means in this particular embodiment comprises two tensionsprings 179 which are connected to the followers. Because a secondfollower 185 is provided in this embodiment for the wheel on theopposite side of the cart, the springs are also attached to thatfollower. The tension springs 179 are biased to maintain the brake shoes105 and 106 in pressurized contact with the wheel 14''. Any movement ofthe cam plate 129 via plate 135 from the position as shown will causethe followers to move outwardly which in turn will cause the brake shoes105 and 106 to rotate away from pressurized contact of wheel 14".

Reference is now made to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 of the drawing where abrake-pedal type movable arm is illustrated. Shown are two pedals, onebeing 28 and one being 200. Brake pedal 28 is the movable arm thatreleases the braking means from pressurized contact with the adjacentwheel. A bracket 30 and a bracket 300 are attached to the cart platformvia connectors 240. Brake pedal 28' is rotatably connected to thebracket 30 via connectors 29. Thus, as shown in FIG. 4, brake pedal 28'may be rotated downwardly about the connectors 29. Rotatably connectedto the pedal 28' via connector 32 is a connector rod 31'. Connector rod31' may be attached to the cam means 125 as was shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.Thus, any movement of the movable arm or brake pedal 28 will move theconnector rod 31' laterally which in turn will rotate the cam plate 129of FIGS. 7 and 8. Of course, the brake-pedal type movable arm may beutilized in conjunction with the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6, wherein aconnector rod would be connected to collar 59 instead of the wire 26 asshown.

The pedal 200 is rotatably connected to bracket 300 via connectors 251.Pedal 200 is adapted to lock brake pedal 28 in the position as shown inFIG. 4. In other words, brake pedal 28 has a projection 250 extendingoutwardly to overlap a portion of pedal 200 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Aspring 241 is attached to the bracket 300 and to pedal 200 and is biasedto cause pedal 200 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction. As brakepedal 28 is caused to rotate in a clockwise direction, or downwardly,projection 250 rotates into a recessed portion 271 of brake pedal 200which permits pedal 200 to rotate counterclockwise. After this occursthe pedals 200 and 28' become locked in the position as shown in FIG. 4of the drawmg.

If the brake pedal 28 were to be utilized in conjunction with thebraking means of FIGS. 7 and 8, then ideally the arrangement orpositions of the brake pedals as shown in FIG. 2 would be the brakedcondition of the cart. In that position, the cam plate 129 would be inthe position as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 and thus the brake rocket 104would be in pressurized contact with wheel 14". If the operator desiredto release the brake rocker 104 from the wheel 14'', he would merelyactivate the brake pedal 28' in the downward or clockwise direction tothe position as shown in FIG. 4. As he did this, the projection 250would index into depressed region 271, and brake pedal 200 would rotatein the counterclockwise direction under the bias of spring 241 to lockthe pedal and the connector rod 31' in the position as shown in FIG. 4.When brake pedal 28' is in that position, the connector rod 31 will haverotated the cam plate 129, causing the brake rocker 104 to rotate awayfrom pressurized contact with wheel 14. To reactivate the brake of thisparticular embodiment, the operator merely has to exert a force on pedal200 against the bias of spring 241. As he does this, the tension springs179 associated with the followers of FIGS. 7 and 8 will cause the camplate 129 to rotate to their original position which in turn will causethe connector rod 31 to move the brake pedal 28 to its original positionas shown in FIG. 2 of the drawing. Thus, it is seen that the operatordoes not have to exert a force sufficient to brake the cart but merely aforce sufficient to overcome the bias of spring 241.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 9 and 10 of the drawing where a dead mantype of movable arm is illustrated. Shown is a post 11' of a cart inwhich the movable arm is to be used. The movable arm is attached to thepost 1 l in a rotatable manner via connector 21. A handle 23' isattached to movable arm 20 to provide accessibility to the movable arm.The movablearm 20' has a gear portion 24' which has the same center ofrotation as does movable arm 20. It is adapted to mate with a gear 19'of a second movable arm 25. Second movable arm 25' is rotatablyconnected to post 11' via a connector 335 and has the same center ofrotation as the gear 19'. The second movable arm 25 is adapted to beconnected to a wire or cable 26 via a fork and cotter pin assembly 340.

Preferably, the wire 26' is connected to cam means 55 of FIGS. 5 and 6.It must communicate with the cam means through a taut path establishedby conventional means, such as pulleys, etc. The rotation of arm 20 willcause the second arm 25' to rotate, which in turn will pull the wire26'. Wire 26 will rotate the cam plate 57 which will cause the brakeshoes 54 to lift from their position of pressurized contact with wheels14'. The utilization of the gears as well as the secondary arm 25' ismerely a means to proportionately magnify a relatively small movement ofarm 20 to a relatively large movement of wire or cable 26. In otherwords, the fact that the radius of gear portion 24' is substantiallylarger than the radius of gear portion 19 will cause a greater movementof the lower end of arm 25 when a small movement of the upper end of arm20' is effected. Of course, it is contemplated to make a directconnection os wire 26' to arm 20 although the magnification of motionmay be more difficult to attain. It should be noted that preferably asimilar arrangement of a movable arm and gear arrangement should belocated on the other end of the cart for convenient accessibility.

The arms will tend to return to their central position when released. Inother words, if no pressure is exerted on arm 20', the spring means,including springs and 82, will cause the braking shoes 54 to return tothe pressurized contact with the wheels 14. This action will cause thefollowers 65 to move inwardly which in turn will cause the cam 57 torotate back to its original position of FIGS. 5 and 6. Thus, when theoperator releases the handle 23, the brake means is automaticallyactivated.

From the foregoing description, it is seen that the serving cart of thispresent invention provides a cart having a braking system that is easilyactivated in one embodiment and automatically activated in the otherembodiment when the operator is not moving the cart. It may be wellunderstood that various minor modifications in design and/or location ofthe various components of this particular serving cart and brakingsystem be made without diverting from the scope of this presentinvention, and the proportions and scale of the drawing should not belimiting upon the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a serving cart having one or more serving platforms mounted onframing, and at least three rotatable wheels mounted on said framing forthe support thereof, an improved braking system which comprises:

a. a movable arm connected to a portion of said cart;

b. braking means movably disposed on said framing adjacent at least oneof said wheels for pressurized contacting of a portion of that wheel tointermittently prevent the rotation thereof, said braking meanscomprising a braking rocker rotatably mounted adjacent at least one ofsaid wheels;

c. motion transferring means connected between said arm and said brakingmeans for transferring motion of said arm to said braking means, saidmotion transferring means including a cam means rotatably connected tosaid framing, and a follower having a first and second end, saidfollower contacting said cam means adjacent said first end, wherebyrotation of said cam means will cause said follower to move laterally,said follower being rotatably connected to said braking rocker adjacentthe second end, whereby the lateral motion of said follower willtransfer motion to said braking rocker; and,

d. spring means connected to said braking system for maintaining saidbraking means in a position of pressurized contact with the adjacentwheel, whereas the movement terized in that said motion transferringmeans comprises a connecting rod rotatably connected to said cam meansand to said arm, whereby the movement of said am will rotate said camsection.

4. The improved serving cart of claim I further characterized in thatsaid movable arm is rotatably connected to said cart.

l 0 0 I II

1. In a serving cart having one or more serving platforms mounted onframing, and at least three rotatable wheels mounted on said framing forthe support thereof, an improved braking system which comprises: a. amovable arm connected to a portion of said cart; b. braking meansmovably disposed on said framing adjacent at least one of said wheelsfor pressurized contacting of a portion of that wheel to intermittentlyprevent the rotation thereof, said braking means comprising a brakingrocker rotatably mounted adjacent at least one of said wheels; c. motiontransferring means connected between said arm and said braking means fortransferring motion of said arm to said braking means, said motiontransferring means including a cam means rotatably connected to saidframing, and a follower having a first and second end, said followercontacting said cam means adjacent said first end, whereby rotation ofsaid cam means will cause said follower to move laterally, said followerbeing rotatably connected to said braking rocker adjacent the secondend, whereby the lateral motion of said follower will transfer motion tosaid braking rocker; and, d. spring means connected to said brakingsystem for maintaining said braking means in a position of pressurizedcontact with the adjacent wheel, whereas the movement of said arm will,via said motion transferring means, release said braking means frompressurized contact with said adjacent wheel.
 2. The improved servingcart of claim 1 further characterized in that said spring meanscomprises a tension spring connected to said follower and being biasedto maintain said braking rocker in pressurized contact with the adjacentwheel.
 3. The improved serving cart of claim 1 further characterized inthat said motion transferring means comprises a connecting rod rotatablyconnected to said cam means and to said arm, whereby the movement ofsaid arm will rotate said cam section.
 4. The improved serving cart ofclaim 1 further characterized in that said movable arm is rotatablyconnected to said cart.